Hand Pain

[daughtersrus]

I hoping that there may be some medical people reading this board.

A little background. Several years ago, I started having problems while I was sleeping with my hands falling asleep. I would wake up at least 10 time a night and often have pain that goes from my wrist towards my elbow.

Since I started sleeping with wrist braces on, I wake up much less but I still have pain on and off and my hands fall asleep very easily. Sometime I feel a "popping" in the palm and fingers when trying to open or grab something. There's a sharp pain but it quickly goes away.

Anyway, this week I've noticed a very sharp pain in the palm of my right hand just below my middle finger. It feels like it's directly opposite the knuckle. When It hurts pretty bad if I put any type of pressure on it.

It doesn't really feel like a lump or cyst but more like the bone. There's no redness or swelling.

I'm really trying to avoid going to the doctor and the x-rays/tests that I'm sure that they'll want to do. It's just not in the budget right now.

Does this sound familiar to anyone?

 

[C.Ann]

Sounds like carpal tunnel to me.. I've had it in both hands - had surgery in 2000 (I think) - and it has since returned in one hand.. It's not terribly uncommon for it to return - depending on what repetitive motions you do with your hands - but right now I don't feel mine is bad enough to have surgery again..

 

[wdwmom2]

I second carpal tunnel. You need to see your doc, who will probably send you for a nerve conduction study.

All this and I haven't even stayed at a Holiday Inn Express lately!

 

[Traveliz]

I vote for carpal tunnel too although I should avoid answering this since others all ready have and it will just make mine worse...

Liz

 

[daughtersrus]

I've always suspected that I have carpal tunnel problems with the wrist pain and falling asleep but this pain in my palm is new. It feels like it's directly opposite of my knuckle. Would the palm/bone/knuckle pain be related to carpal tunnel?

It's sensitive to touch. I held the steering wheel a little to tight today and boy did I feel it!

 

[chell]

Vitamin E may help with the circulation for now.

 

[jas_mom1]

I was just at an Orthopedic Surgeon today for the same thing. I have Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and just scheduled surgery. Your symptoms are CTS. Please see a doctor. You could get permanent nerve damage if the splints are not helping and left untreated. The procedure is done outpatient and will be fairly quick. I will be in a cast (not sure what type) for 15 days.

Dianne

 

[dicar123]

I started working full time in October and have suddenly noticed that I wake up with numb fingers (thumb, index and middle). My wrist and hand don't hurt, but my elbow often aches.

I wouldn't say that what I do is repetitive (like typing), but it is more physical activity and weight bearing than I have been used to.

Is it better to see a doctor sooner rather than later? Or does it make much difference?

 

[tiggspring]

Sounds like carpal tunnel to me.. I've had it in both hands - had surgery in 2000 (I think) - and it has since returned in one hand.. It's not terribly uncommon for it to return - depending on what repetitive motions you do with your hands - but right now I don't feel mine is bad enough to have surgery again..

Totally agree.

 

[daughtersrus]

I was just at an Orthopedic Surgeon today for the same thing. I have Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and just scheduled surgery. Your symptoms are CTS. Please see a doctor. You could get permanent nerve damage if the splints are not helping and left untreated. The procedure is done outpatient and will be fairly quick. I will be in a cast (not sure what type) for 15 days.

Dianne

That's the problem. I can't afford to be in a cast. DH would have to take at least 2 weeks off of work to care for our DD that is disabled. With the way work is right now, we can't afford to give them any excuse to lay him off or fire him. I know that it probably wouldn't be legal but I wouldn't put it past the owner to do it. We just can't risk loosing our health insurance.

Will they do both hands at the same time or will you have to go back and have the second one done at a later time?

Good luck with your surgery!

 

[wdwmom2]

Several of my co-workers have had CTS done. None of those ladies had a cast. The were bandaged from mid-palm to about half way up their forearm. They had this on for about 1 week, maybe a little more, then removed.

I had another friend have both hands done and they were done at different times.

Do you have any family or friends that could help you out while you are recovering?

 

[CruiserMom]

Yep, carpal tunnel. I have it in both wrists. I have had my right one operated on, was completely bandaged for about a week, then kept a bandaid on the small incision. It was a breeze, except that my job requires computer data entry, so that went really s l o w l y for a while. I also have arthritis in that wrist, so I still have some pain there, but usually no numbness.

I need to go have my left wrist done now. It is driving me crazy, I can't even drive 2 handed most of the time now.

I didn't have nerve conduction tests done, just an xray in the office. I had cortisone shots in both wrists a couple of times, so maybe they can try that first.

 

[motherhen17404]

Sounds like CTS to me too. I had the same pain for over a year before I had it checked out. I went to a Orthopaedic specialist and he set me up for surgery the next week. Said I was in danger of nerve damage if I did not get it done ASAP.

I asked the same question about having both hands done at the same time. I got this dumb look from the Dr. Then he told me that I would have no use of the hand for a week after surgery, so if I did both hands at the same time, how was I going to take care of myself in "personal matters" (bathroom matters). I had the surgery in June on my right hand. The Dr. was right, I could not use my hand for a week. I had soft, but bulky wrapping on my hand for 3 days, then I could take that off, and just cover the stitches with a band-aid. But it was a full week before I could bend my fingers. I had the surgery done on a Monday and I went to work on Wed. I could not drive, so I got a ride to work. I could not write or type, but I was doing sales, so I just did the talking. No one could believe that I was at work so fast after surgery. But I had no pain for the first few days after surgery. As the hand started to heal is when I had pain. It is not that bad, I only took over the counter pain meds. But, my handwriting is not back to normal. But that is my fault, I have been too busy to do the exercises they tell you to do. And the best thing is my hand has not gone to sleep at night since the day before surgery.

I understand not being able to afford the Dr. fees or the surgery. I was lucky, my Dr. takes payments, so that is what I had to do. It was either that or risk nerve damage. Good luck.

 

[C.Ann]

Is it better to see a doctor sooner rather than later? Or does it make much difference?

Sooner!! Because of the job I had, I waited too long when I had my first surgeries.. I'm left handed and by the time I had the sugery I had already lost some function.. I can't grip anything between my thumb and index finger; can't button a button with that hand; can't grip nail clippers; etc.. My surgeon said he has had patients come in that have put it off for so long their hand has actually atrophied and is totally useless!! You don't want that - or even the smaller issues like mine..

Do yourself a favor and have it checked out ASAP so they can schedule the surgery if need be..

 

[jas_mom1]

That's the problem. I can't afford to be in a cast. DH would have to take at least 2 weeks off of work to care for our DD that is disabled. With the way work is right now, we can't afford to give them any excuse to lay him off or fire him. I know that it probably wouldn't be legal but I wouldn't put it past the owner to do it. We just can't risk loosing our health insurance.

Will they do both hands at the same time or will you have to go back and have the second one done at a later time?

Good luck with your surgery!

Don't honestly know what kind of cast/bandage it will be. I have to have another pre-op meeting. I have a list of questions, including how long to be out of work. (I teach preschool so not having the use of a hand would be an issue.) I will only have one done at a time. Like someone else said, it's hard to be without both hands for personal issues.

Maybe you can see about cortisone shots. They might help.

 

[golfgal]

That's the problem. I can't afford to be in a cast. DH would have to take at least 2 weeks off of work to care for our DD that is disabled. With the way work is right now, we can't afford to give them any excuse to lay him off or fire him. I know that it probably wouldn't be legal but I wouldn't put it past the owner to do it. We just can't risk loosing our health insurance.

Will they do both hands at the same time or will you have to go back and have the second one done at a later time?

Good luck with your surgery!

Do you get any county aid for your DD? I know in our county they have a plan that covers expenses related to child care for a disabled child--medical bills, day care costs, babysitting costs, etc. directly related to the care of that child. You having surgery and needing help with your DD would be covered under this plan. If you aren't receiving help already, you should look into it and not just for this hand problem.

 

[monkey68]

That's the problem. I can't afford to be in a cast. DH would have to take at least 2 weeks off of work to care for our DD that is disabled. With the way work is right now, we can't afford to give them any excuse to lay him off or fire him. I know that it probably wouldn't be legal but I wouldn't put it past the owner to do it. We just can't risk loosing our health insurance.

Will they do both hands at the same time or will you have to go back and have the second one done at a later time?

Good luck with your surgery!

Don't assume you'll be in a cast. I didn't have CTS surgery, but I had DeQuervain's, which is a related disorder. I ended up having surgery for it, the first doc I saw told me I would be in a hard cast for about 2 weeks after surgery. I saw a different doc who told me no cast, just a pressure dressing for 2 days, and leave the steri strips on for about a week after that. Depends on the surgeon. I was out of commission for only a couple days, after that, I was back to doing light work, writing, no heavy lifting, but otherwise, it was fine.

 

[PatsMom]

Sounds like carpal tunnel or cubital tunnel. Depends on what part of your hand is getting numb. I had more pain in the hand with the cubital tunnel than with the carpal. I've had surgery in both arms for both conditions. Cubital tunnel surgery involves incisions at the elbow.

For both conditions I had nerve conductivity tests to confirm the diagnosis. The carpal tunnel surgery was done about three weeks apart. I did no physical therapy after the surgeries other than some hand exercises at home because I didn't want to take any more time off work than necessary. I was out a week with each hand - I think I could have gone back sooner but my job required a lot of typing at that point and the surgeon didn't want me to. I had enough vacation time to cover the absences (no short term disability coverage through my employer). I have a soft but heavy bandage for the first three days. Then just a small wrap until the sixth day when the stitches were removed. Then no bandage at all for the first hand. For the second hand the incision failed to adhere and I was bandaged for some time.

I have some permanent impairment in the hands from the surgery on the one that didn't adhere and from overuse in the right hand. You can't let the thing go too long.

When the numbness came back a few years later, I had more testing done and confirmed cubital tunnel. This involves moving a nerve at the elbox that affects the hand. I only missed a day of work with each of those surgeries as I had the use of my hands but no lifting, etc. And I was still in a lot of pain from the incisions.

Good luck to you - the pain is probably only going to get worse so if there is anyway you can get help with your child you should do it. You should also consult a doctor to confirm the diagnosis - as far as I know none of us are doctors, we are just relating your symptons to what we experienced. There may be things short of surgery they can do (such as full time splinting) to alleviate your pain until it is more convenient to have the surgery.

 

[C.Ann]

I had my left hand done on Valentine's Day (dominant hand) and the other hand in July - the year I had my CT surgeries done..

I did not have casts on either hand.. Just wrapped up in a whole bunch of gauze and an ace bandage..

You really don't want to let this go if it's CT because you can - and will - end up with permanent impairment.. It's just a matter of what "degree".. Please see a doctor ASAP.. In the long run, permanent impairment or the total loss of use one or both of your hands would be far more costly than any financial strain right now - and the end results would be for the rest of your life.. It's nothing to fool around with - please don't put it off..